My top 10 storylines through first half of high school football season

Can't believe the high school football regular season is half over, although, realistically, we're not even one-third done. Remember, there could be 11 more weeks left in the season if somebody gets to Hershey for the state finals the weekend of Dec. 17-18.

This coming weekend will offer a 1-2 punch of big games featuring unbeatens with Pen Argyl visiting Northern Lehigh on Friday and longtime rivals Whitehall and Central Catholic getting together at J. Birney Crum Stadium on Saturday night.

Here are my top 10 storylines of the first half of this season, looking at what's going on around the entire Valley and region:

10. The continuing struggles of Allen and Dieruff.

New coach Cedric Lloyd has instilled a lot of enthusiasm and has attempted to change the mindset and culture with the Canaries. Allen is at least scoring points, and was competitive in a couple of games. Dieruff, despite vast publicity, particularly from this newspaper, doesn't appear to be any closer to becoming competitive and competitive is really all Dieruff fans, parents and alums are hoping for.

9. The rise of the Slate Belt.

Pen Argyl and Bangor are both having terrific turnaround years, and both feature a few of the greatest players in the school's recent history -- true stars like Slaters' Scott LaValva and the Knights' Nathan Hood and Dylan Evans.

8. The tough start, but recent turnaround of Pius X. Phil Stambaugh began his coaching career with his alma mater getting battered by strong opponents from Pottstown, Staten Island and Schuyklill Valley. However, the Royals, behind freshman quarterback A.J. Long, have put 62 and 57 points on the board in the past two weeks. Pius X plays just one team with a winning record over the second half of the season, so a playoff push is possible.

7. The power of Pleasant Valley. In his second season as head coach, Jimmy Terwilliger has good things happening with the Bears. They are 4-1 and on their way to their first winning season since 2004. PV is not just playing winning football, but exciting football with 41.5 points per game over the last four weeks.

6. Emergence of Nazareth. The Blue Eagles are the only team to beat Pleasant Valley -- they shut the Bears out in Week 1 -- and are on their way to their best season since going 7-4 in 2001. They are just 3-2, but the two losses were against Easton and Central and they accounted themselves well in both of those games. And they've clearly proven by now that they're not just Chuck Dibilio and 10 other guys on offense.

5. The decline of both Wilson and Liberty. When you lose quarterbacks like Tyler Smith and Anthony Gonzalez, you're going to come back to earth. Yet, the Warriors and Hurricanes have been at the top of the heap for so long that it's still a bit surprising to see these two outstanding programs come back to the pack as they have.

4. Will Rovers respond after bitter loss to Whitehall? Last year Easton stubbed its toe early with a tough 7-6 loss to Emmaus and used the bitterness as fuel for 10 straight wins and an amazing run into December. Will the Rovers use their head-shaking loss to Whitehall last Friday night, in which they led 14-0 and then had all kinds of problems on offense, as fire for another charge?

3. Fred Ross' ouster at Stroudsburg. No one had been a head coach longer at one place than Fred Ross at Stroudsburg. Yes, the Mounties have struggled in recent years, but few have done more for their school than Ross, a Catasauqua native. He deserved to go out on his own terms, but in a bizarre move, he was told by his superintendent that this season would be his last before the team's first game. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the Stroudsburg season turns out and whether or not the Mounties can rally around their departing coach.

2. Cody Remaley's run into the record books. The Northern Lehigh star may go down as the most prolific back in area history. Can he also run the Bulldogs all the way to Hershey? A rematch with North Schuylkill in the district finals is going to be one to watch.

1. Can anybody beat Central Catholic? So far, no one has. The Vikings began the season as the team to beat and have taken the best shots of several teams and are still unscathed. The defense is a bit of a concern and tough games loom against Whitehall, Parkland and Emmaus. But the Vikings will be favored to win each of those and will then be overwhelming favorites through the District 11 3A tournament. There's no reason to think they won't be playing in December and could be doing some Christmas shopping in Hershey.

Current Comments

Fun stuff, Keith. RE CCHS resurgence ... Wonder how long it'll take for the Recruiting Conspiracy Theorists to crawl out of their caves and start whining again? Let the countdown begin.

Posted By: Mke Brusko | Oct 5, 2010 8:06:57 AM

Good reading for a rainy day.

Posted By: Jeff Smith | Oct 5, 2010 3:07:57 PM

I take it you only look at scores when making your articles? My son plays for a Bethlehem team and they played both Allentown teams. I can tell you Dieruff is the better of the 2 as they kept the Varsity (for us) on the field until the 4th quarter. Allen gave up 21 points before 5 minutes clicked off the clock. Maybe if people actuall took the time to go sit through an Allentown game they'd see they were only a play or two, or a block or two away from winning. The Allentown boys deserve kudos for getting on the field every week knowing they will most probably lose, and lose big. They play the game for the game. No attitudes, no throwing helmets, no fits - and I have seen those actions on the field, but not from them. Kindly refrain from putting down kids who don't have the same opportunities as the other schools, but still spend their summers working out and playing hard week after week. I'd like to see you put yourself through their schedule knowing you'll have a season full of losses.

Posted By: Michelle | Oct 5, 2010 3:22:59 PM

Michelle, thank you for your thoughts as to Allentown football. However, Allen is MUCH better than Dieruff. That being said, these kids have it VERY tough. How many kids would stick around to lose EVERY week? Honestly, I cannot say that I would stick with it.

Brusko, did all CCHS football players grow up in the CYO while intending to go to CCHS? I honestly have no clue. Are kids sent to CCHS to play football? Probably. Am I entirely wrong in my assumption? Surely, there are some kids who have been "recruited" to play football at CCHS. No?

BTW, CCHS isnt the only school guilty of this 'recruiting'.

Posted By: ASD | Oct 5, 2010 4:34:33 PM

ASD ... Just to be clear, I do NOT subscribe to the "recruiting conspiracy" theory. I never believed for a minute that catholic schools had a "recruiting" edge over public schools. Never have, never will.

The only schools that have a "recruiting" edge are those with charismatic, talented coaches who know how to put a high-performing team on the field every week. Catholic schools have no monopoly on quality coaches.

Frankly, neither of the catholic schools in the LVC have anything exciting to offer a public school kid, to entice him (or her) to play there -- unless and until they start winning. Witness the peaks and valley's of Beca and CCHS football and basketball.

In addition to CCHS, don't be shocked if you start to hear rumblings of Rob Melosky "recruiting" at Nazareth, now that they're starting to open some eyes. Of course, most of those rumors will be baseless, too.

I don't doubt that coaches try to get kids to switch schools. But I categorically reject that it happens often enough, and with enough players, to consistently impact games and seasons. I also categorically deny that it's exclusively a catholic school phenomenon.

Posted By: Mke Brusko | Oct 5, 2010 6:00:27 PM

Brusko, I agree with you to an extent. But, I believe, this 'recruiting' does in fact occur.

However , let me factor in the ASD's biggest loss...school quality!!! I have been around long enough to see what has happened to the ASD. Parents do not want to send their kids to the schools. It shames me to see what has happened to the city I love.

Despite that rant, parents/kids do change schools for primarily athletic reasons. Therefore, while I have said that 'recruiting' occurs, perhaps it should be called 'moving to a new school'? Either way, I do feel it happens ALOT in the area, no?

Posted By: ASD | Oct 5, 2010 7:41:15 PM

Kegger , Thanks for the mention in last weeks picks ; I've always wanted to be on par with the Weave ! This was a very good article . As many of us had hoped , this is shaping up to be an outstanding year in the LVC and the CL . Our area is the big winner .
As for recruiting , I too find no " conspiracy theory ." I think recruiting goes on , all over the area and it has for years . If you want to stop losing kids , simply put a winner on the field . It's amazing how many athlete's we saw leave Emmaus in the 80's & 90's when our football team was winning two games every five years . Not so much today ! And in all the years I've followed EHS sports I've never seen a field hockey player or swimmer leave .

Posted By: CHEK | Oct 6, 2010 12:20:14 AM

Great read all around. I for one am really looking forward to this weeks Northern Lehigh/ Pen Argyl game. I hope to be able to read the papers and your comments with delight this coming weekend. Go Dawgs!!!

Posted By: Adam | Oct 6, 2010 12:32:29 AM

While I am sure recruiting does go on, I challenge any of those that think the core of this current group of Viking football players were recruited. The core has been together since grade school all playing for the same CYO team. Do your research and if I 'm wrong call it out...

Posted By: Central Fan | Oct 6, 2010 9:01:14 AM

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